Yoshiaki Hiruma is one of Japan’s most ambitious and celebrated tea makers. With more than 25 distinct teas in his repertoire, Hiruma-san has forged his own path, breaking from traditional production techniques in search of something new — not just for himself, but for the entire tea-growing region of Saitama. His fearless approach to oxidation, cultivar selection, and hand-rolling has made him a true innovator and a driving force in modern Japanese tea.